‘Abandoned’ MASLOC vehicles still in good shape, selling slowly – CEO

Some 350 vehicles procured in 2016 by a government agency responsible for microfinance but were unable to be sold to drivers due to their above-average market prices are still in good shape, Chief Executive of the agency has said.

Chief Executive of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Stephen Amoah, who made the revelations on PM Express on Monday evening said, “just a few months ago, the cars were serviced by the suppliers themselves.”

Joy News investigation revealed that the cost of the vehicles procured for private drivers who belong to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) cost the state over GHS18 million, higher than the market price of the vehicles from the same supplier, Mac Autos and Spareparts Ghana Limited.

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Video: Watch a documentary on the abandoned vehicles in above.

The private transport operators rejected the vehicles because of the alleged price inflation.

The 350 vehicles are currently parked in the National Security yard behind the Accra International Conference Centre, in Accra.

Photo: Some of the salon cars have been completely covered with weeds.

However, when the MASLOC CEO appeared on the nightly current affairs programme on MultiTV, he said there is a firm plan to make some savings for the government despite the current impasse.

“We want the government to actually save money as much as possible. So if we can get people to buy them at this present price, that will be my priority. If we don’t and we reduce it; then, of course, we will talk to GPRTU because I think it will be fair to give them the chance. The fact is also that it is [being bought] at a very slow pace because of the prizes,” he said on PM Express.

“The fact that the cars are there doesn’t mean we are not maintaining them,” he added, to indicate that depreciation of the vehicles will be minimal.

When the story broke many held that depreciation of the vehicles after their exposure to the elements of the weather for at least two years would further run down their prices. However, the MASLOC CEO seems to have dispelled this view with the revelation about regular servicing of the vehicles.

Mr Stephen Amoah also said some of the vehicles have even been bought, although he was unable to provide the exact number.

“What we must do now is that as much as possible, because in my opinion the harm has already been done. The problem was basically the prices. They were very high, way above-market average. We did what we could and within a year we managed to bring the price down so that people could buy,” he said.